Something I always wonder is what was he doing armed sneaking in that house. He saw that there were only a woman and two little kids, for god's sake! What was he doing? Don't tell me he went for salt. He found salt on his way but what was his original purpose? And he did this twice!
Uh, he didn't pull the gun out until he heard noises (Mike walking around) upstairs. He had come to return the salt he borrowed the night before. Why do you think they showed him sitting the salt on the table before he bailed?
------------------------------ Kristen Dowd The Future of Independent Film
You mean when he went in the first time or when he went back? The first time I'm sure it was just to raid the house for some food/supplies and the second was to return what he took.
Sam is a thief but not a killer or a violent guy (Unless provoked like the bad guys trying to hurt her and the kids), they try to make that point with that scene and with him explaining how he went to jail later. I think he just pulled the gun Billy left him out as a reflex to the noise, just in case he needed to scare off some big guy trying to whop his ass so he could get away, haha.
------------------------------ Kristen Dowd The Future of Independent Film
Something that you're wrong about: he DIDN'T know that it was just a woman & two kids; he only saw the woman preparing to bathe at first, and the house & area would've indicated (albeit falsely, in this case), that she had a husband. Remember that he didn't find out the specifics until later. Also, he would've carried a gun in case he met anyone along the way, having had to walk through the forest to get to the house. Remember that he was a persued criminal who'd just broken out of prison (or a prison bus, to be exact). He didn't even meet Mookie until AFTER he left the house the 2nd time.
It's no true, he seen the two kids and the woman from the window, it's was few seconds before the woman take a bathe. Also he pull the gun out before hearing any noises from the two kids or woman.